COMMA OR SEMICOLON? TEACHER KEY
PeakSAT | Original teaching activity | Reviewed October 19, 2026

0:00 TO 0:45: CHOOSE
Show the student activity before the key. Correct choice: B, a semicolon.

0:45 TO 1:45: EXPLAIN
"The first sample was damaged" and "the second sample remained intact" are independent clauses. Each has a subject and finite verb and expresses a complete thought. "However" signals contrast but is not a coordinating conjunction. The semicolon supplies the clause boundary; the comma following however is already present.

A: A comma alone creates a comma splice.
B: The semicolon separates these independent clauses.
C: Without punctuation, the clauses are fused.
D: A colon immediately followed by a comma is not a conventional boundary.

1:45 TO 3:00: TRANSFER
"Although the first sample was damaged, the second sample remained intact."
Use a comma. "Although" makes the opening clause dependent. A semicolon cannot connect this dependent opener to the main clause.

NEXT STEP
If students rely on a pause rather than clause structure, use a fresh sentence from the grammar packet. If the method is sound, move to another sentence structure.
Grammar packet: https://www.peaksat.com/resources/sat-grammar-boundaries-packet
Clause lesson: https://www.peaksat.com/lessons/clause-boundaries-semicolon
Error log: https://www.peaksat.com/tools/sat-error-log

Activity: https://www.peaksat.com/resources/sat-grammar-bellringer
Reuse this original activity in classroom, library, school newsletter and nonprofit advising materials with credit to PeakSAT. No signup, endorsement or followed link is required. Keep this key separate from the first student attempt. This teaching check does not predict an SAT score.